DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy is tied for the lead with Rasmus Hoggard and Antoine Rosner heading into the final round of the season-ending World Tour Championship as the Northern Irishman moves closer to a sixth run to the Dubai title on Saturday.
McIlroy could have taken the lead outright, but his birdie putt on the final horseshoe hole of the Cup left him with a 4-under 68 and 12-under par for the tournament alongside Hoggard (66).
Rosner, who started the third round with a shot to spare, made it a three-shot tie at the top by rolling in an 8-foot eagle putt to No. 18 for a 69.
They were two strokes ahead of Jesper Svensson (68) and Joaquin Niemann (69), with Tyrell Hatton (71) another shot back after an expletive-laden round that included hitting him with a club.
McIlroy looks certain to win another Race to Dubai title – formerly the Order of Merit – for the most points gained all year on the European Tour. It would be title No. 6, tying him with the late Seve Ballesteros and leaving him just behind Colin Montgomery’s record.
But the No. 3-ranked McIlroy’s goal was to win two trophies on the 18th green on Sunday as he bids for his fourth tournament win of the season on the world stage, following the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic, the team’s Zurich Classic event and the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour.
“It’s a great opportunity to end the year really well,” McIlroy said. “I’m going to go out there tomorrow and do everything I can and hopefully things go my way and I can stand on the 18th green with both cups.”
Hojgaard birdied six of his first eight holes and birdied the rest of his round, making five at the end despite driving onto rocks guarding the water and needing to take a drop and then getting a free drop after nearly hitting his approach out of bounds.
“It felt like No. 8 at some point,” he said.
Hoggard is looking to emulate his twin brother Nikolai, who won the season-ending event in Dubai last year.
“We talked about it earlier this week, how great it would be – another Hoggard could defend the title,” Rasmus Hougaard said. “It would be great if that happened.”
Hojgaard and No. 154 Rozner are both seeking one of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer for next season on the European Tour. Rasmus will join Nikolai in the United States if that happens.
As for Rosner, he said his focus was “on tomorrow and tomorrow only” even though Sunday could change his life.
“Score a good result, that’s the only thing that will matter to me now,” said Rosner, a three-time European Tour winner. “I have to go out with the right mindset.”
Hatton started the day one shot off the front, but an eventful round saw him miss a par putt from the inside two feet on the fourth and pressed his iron hard into the ground after hitting his third shot on the 14th until it snapped. .
“It’s time for a change, I’m afraid. This is a terrible impact on the next generation,” said Eoin Murray, who was commentating on Britain’s Sky Sports.
Earlier, after missing a five-foot putt for birdie on the 11th, Hatton slammed his putter onto the green and swore repeatedly in comments captured on television.
The European Tour said Hatton would be fined for violating its code of conduct.
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